All you need to know about global tax refunds: news, facts and tips

In recent years, many people working abroad have faced growing financial challenges — rising living costs, unstable jobs and uncertainty about the future. In such situations, it is important to look for legal ways to strengthen your financial security. One of the most effective options is to claim back overpaid income taxes from abroad. Extra income without extra work When you work abroad, taxes are usually deducted from your salary automatically. In many cases, part of this tax is overpaid. This overpayment can be legally refunded, which means that part of the money you earned can be transferred back directly to your bank account. On average, many workers receive refunds of around €800–€1,000, but in some cases the amount can be significantly higher. It is important to know that in many countries you can claim a tax refund for the last 4–5 years. So even if you worked abroad a few years ago, it may still be possible to submit your claim and get your money back. Millions left unclaimed every year Although the tax refund process is simple and completely legal, many people still do not use it. A large percentage of people who worked abroad never claim their refund, which means that millions remain in foreign tax offices every year instead of returning to the workers who earned that money. The most common reasons are lack of information, unclear requirements and lack of time. However, all of these problems can be solved by working with tax refund specialists. How does it work? The tax refund process usually follows a few simple steps: Collect the required documents from your employer or tax authorities. Complete your tax return according to the country’s rules. Submit your tax return to the foreign tax office. After review, the overpaid amount is transferred to your bank account. The process usually takes between 3 and 6 months, depending on the country and the accuracy of your documents. Why should you do it now? Every extra euro matters, especially during uncertain economic times. By claiming back overpaid taxes, you can increase your savings, cover important expenses or simply improve your financial stability. It is a safe, legal and straightforward way to benefit from money that already belongs to you. Don’t leave your money abroad Submit your application using the registration form and claim your overpaid taxes. To learn more about the tax refund process, visit our homepage .

More and more people choose to claim tax refunds online because it is a convenient, fast and secure way to recover overpaid income tax from abroad, no matter where you live. Most steps can be completed remotely and the process can be started in just a few minutes – without leaving your home. How does online tax refund work? The process is clear and simple. It usually includes these basic steps: Registration. Complete a simple online registration form and provide your personal and work-related details. Submit your documents. Upload the documents you have – usually employer certificates, payslips and a copy of your ID. For each country, you can find a list of required documents. Preparation of your claim. Once we receive your documents, we prepare your tax return and submit it to the relevant tax authority. Receive your money. After the tax office makes the payment, the refunded amount is transferred directly to your chosen bank account.<

Denmark is one of the most popular destinations for people working abroad. Due to its advanced tax system, workers often end up with overpaid income tax that can be legally claimed back. However, many people are unsure where to start or which documents are required. What is the Årsopgørelse form? Every year, usually in March, the Danish Tax Agency (SKAT) issues an annual tax assessment called Årsopgørelse. This document shows how much you earned, how much tax you paid and whether you are entitled to a refund. After receiving this document, it is important to check whether your employer provided correct information and whether all tax allowances have been applied. Once you receive your Årsopgørelse, you can contact RTTAX. Our specialists can help you access the SKAT system, review your tax situation, estimate your potential refund and advise you on the next steps. How does the process work? Once the service is confirmed, our team checks whether you have any unpaid tax refunds, unused holiday pay, and whether you have an active NemKonto account, which is required to receive payments. Based on the analysis, we may recommend the most suitable services, such as tax return correction, holiday pay claim, or NemKonto account setup. This helps ensure that your payments are received safely and as quickly as possible. Which documents are required? Årsopgørelse form (annual tax assessment issued in March); Oplysningsseddel (employer’s tax certificate) or your latest payslips (Lønseddel); Copy of your passport or national ID card; Travel tickets or travel documents – these can help increase your refund. Claiming holiday pay from Denmark If you have left Denmark but still have unused holidays, you may be able to claim your accumulated holiday pay. In many cases, this can be done for up to the last three years. Information about unused holiday pay is usually sent by FerieKonto around March. The letter includes the amount of accumulated funds, number of holiday days and the employers who made the contributions. RTTAX can help you arrange the transfer of these payments, even if you cannot access the system yourself or do not have all documents. Child benefits in Denmark If you are a working parent, you may also be entitled to child benefits. More information about eligibility and how to apply can be found here: child benefits in Denmark . Use online help Want to find out if you are entitled to a tax refund? Complete the registration form and our team will handle everything from document preparation to submission of your tax return. Note: This information is general in nature. In some cases, additional data or documents may be required. Clients are informed individually if this applies.

Norway is considered one of the most family-friendly countries in Europe. To support families and ensure financial security for children, the country provides various child benefits (Barnetrygd) not only to its own citizens, but also to foreign workers who live or work in Norway. Parents may be entitled to child benefits in Norway when one parent works or has worked in Norway and the other parent lives with the child in a European Economic Area (EEA) country. In such cases, families may receive full or partial payments. What child benefits are available in Norway? There are three main types of child-related benefits in Norway, depending on your family situation: Barnetrygd (child benefit) This benefit is paid for all children up to the age of 18. The current amount is 1968 NOK (around €180) per month per child. Extended Barnetrygd (for single parents) This benefit is paid to single parents raising children up to the age of 18. The payment amount is approximately 2516 NOK (around €230) per month. Kontantstøtte (cash-for-care benefit) This benefit applies to children aged 13 to 19 months who do not attend kindergarten or attend less than 32 hours per week. One of the parents must work in Norway. The maximum payment period is 7 months, and the maximum amount is 7500 NOK (around €690) per month. Good to know If you meet the requirements, it may be possible to receive two benefits at the same time. Barnetrygd and Extended Barnetrygd can usually be claimed retroactively for up to 3 previous years. Kontantstøtte can usually be claimed retroactively for up to 3 previous months. Which documents are required? To apply for child benefits in Norway, you will usually need the following documents: Copy of your employment contract and/or skattekort (tax card); Payslips from the previous period; Copy of your passport or national ID card; Copy of your child’s birth certificate; Proof of residence or family composition in an EEA country (if applicable). What happens if your work situation changes? If you stop working in Norway, you must inform NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration). If you no longer work in the country, you usually lose entitlement to child benefits. If payments continue after your eligibility ends, NAV may treat these amounts as an overpayment that must be repaid. If both parents live together, the benefit is usually paid to the mother. If one parent stays in Norway and the other lives with the child in an EEA country, payments are made to the parent with whom the child lives. Learn more More information about child benefits can be found here: child benefits in Norway .

If you worked in Sweden, there is a good chance that part of the income tax you paid can be refunded. Everyone who works in Sweden pays income tax, but depending on the tax system and your individual situation, an overpayment may occur. To recover it, you must submit an annual income tax return. This declaration includes your income, taxes paid and applicable allowances. The process is managed by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). Tax systems in Sweden Fixed 25% tax system (SINK) – most commonly applied to short-term workers. Standard tax system – allows you to declare income, apply allowances and claim a tax refund. If you worked under the fixed 25% tax system, it is often possible to switch to the standard system later and increase your potential refund. When do you need to submit your tax return? If you are taxed under the standard system, it is important that your tax return is submitted and approved by May. If you miss the deadline, the Skatteverket may impose a fine, usually between 1,250 and 3,750 SEK, depending on the situation. Required documents To claim a tax refund from Sweden, you are usually asked to provide: Your Samordningsnummer or Personnummer; Inkomstdeklaration 1 form (if you have received it); Latest payslips from all employers; Copy of your passport or national ID card; Bank account certificate (bankintyg). How long does the process take? The tax refund process usually takes between 3 and 12 months. The duration depends on the tax system applied, the tax year and the processing time of Skatteverket. How to start the process The first step is online registration. Complete the short registration form , select Sweden as the country from which you want to claim a tax refund, and submit your application. Our team will take care of everything else – from preparing your tax return to submitting it to the Swedish tax authorities.

The tax system in the Netherlands is considered one of the more complex in Europe, which is why everyone who worked there should understand the basic principles and deadlines. As a new tax year approaches, it is worth preparing in advance and checking whether you are entitled to a tax refund. 1. When and which documents should you collect? At the beginning of each year (usually in February), employers in the Netherlands issue Jaaropgave forms. These documents contain information about your income and the taxes you paid. You should keep copies of these forms, as they are essential for claiming a tax refund. If you do not have your Jaaropgave, it is still possible to submit a claim using your BSN number. RTTAX specialists can contact your employer or the Belastingdienst to help obtain missing information. 2. What should you do if you receive a letter from the tax office? If you receive a letter from the Belastingdienst asking you to file a tax return, it is important to do so by the deadline stated in the letter. If you fail to submit your tax return on time, you may receive a fine (starting from €200). Even if you were not working at that time, you may still be required to submit a so-called “zero tax return”. 3. Tax status for people living outside the Netherlands People whose official place of residence is registered in another EU country are treated as non-residents. If more than 90% of your annual income was earned in the Netherlands, you may still be entitled to local tax allowances. To benefit from these allowances, you must usually provide a certificate of income from your country of residence, confirmed by the local tax authority. 4. Additional benefits and compensation If you had Dutch health insurance (Zorgverzekering), you may be entitled to compensation for part of the insurance costs, called Zorgtoeslag. This application can often be submitted together with your tax return. 5. How long does the process take? You can usually claim a tax refund from the Netherlands for the last 5 years. From the submission of your documents to receiving the payment, it usually takes 3–6 months. In some cases, the process may take longer if additional information is required from the authorities. 6. How to start your tax refund? The fastest way to start is to fill in the registration form and upload the documents you have. Once received, RTTAX specialists will review your situation and help submit all the necessary applications to the Belastingdienst.